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Using of Security Guards

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:04:02 +0100

Courtesy Officer (watchman) Vs. Security Guard
Is there a difference between a uniformed security guard and a courtesy officer on an apartment property? The name obviously...but their function is often identical. It seems that some apartment managers believe that calling a uniformed security guard a ‘courtesy officer” somehow reduces their exposure to civil liability. This belief can’t be farther from the truth. The old saying applies here, if it looks like a duck, quacks like at duck, and walks like a duck.. .it’s probably a duck. Call them what you will, but know that it’s the security guard uniform and conduct that will define their true job function.

In practical terms, the primary difference between the two is that the contract security guard is employed by the contractor and not by you. The in-house courtesy officer is an employee of the property management company and usually lives on the premises. The courtesy officer may not be in traditional uniform and may only wear a logo shirt. There are advantages and disadvantages of both types. The biggest advantage of a courtesy officer over the contract worker is the ability to have them live on-site and get to know the property and residents better Most carry a pager and can respond quickly. Many courtesy officers offer superior service and become very loyal to the property they protect.

Many courtesy officers are off-duty police officers, and with them come superior training and experience. However, don’t assume that off-duty police officers know how to provide adequate security to an apartment property. Apartment security isn’t taught at the police academy. Also, remember that off-duty police officers may be tired and may not want to wear another uniform or do a lot of toot patrol. However, many courtesy officers are mere civilians and can have the disadvantage of a lack of professional security or police training. Obviously, the training problem can be overcome with a little effort.

Background Checks
Another issue is one of background screening. Most uniformed contract security officers should have been screened at some level. Off-duty police officers, presumably, should have already been screened before being hired by their municipality. At minimum, job references and a basic criminal background should be checked on contract officers and non-police courtesy officers. You must inquire about this and require it of the guard company, in writing, as part of your contract to afford yourself greater liability protection.

If courtesy officers live on site, they should be qualified like any other resident including having verifiable job references and no felony criminal convictions. Yes, ex-felons need jobs too, but not working a security job at a residential property.. too much liability. Most good applicants will have solid identifiable references, most bad applicants will not. Don’t hire bad security applicants. The bottom line is: if you going to issue unit keys or master keys to a security guard or courtesy officer you better feel comfortable with them.

How to accurately check job references and criminal backgrounds is a constant source of complaint from property managers. It’s not difficult, but access varies depending on where you live. The solution is to try, and to make a good faith effort. There are dozens of background screening services available and private investigators that perform this service at a reasonable rate. Look in the telephone directory or check with your local apartment association for referrals.

Contract Security Guard Service
The question that I’m most often asked is, “How do I find a quality contract security guard service for a reasonable price that will perform the patrols responsibly?” To answer this question you must first accept certain facts as being true. Accept the fact that the words “quality and reasonable price” are often contradictory terms. Accept the fact that paying the highest or lowest price for a contract security patrol officer doesn’t always equate to the quality of service, although there are exceptions. Accept the fact that all contract security agencies are drawn from the same labor pool for potential employees. If your market area has high employment the security guard labor pool may be substandard. In fact, many poor quality security officers will drift between contract agencies until they exhaust the supply of employers. Security guards are often transient and this is the first job they find after hitting town. Because of this fact, it can become a kind of a crapshoot sometimes as the contract agency sends a different security officer to patrol your property each night.

So what’s the Solution?
As a rule of thumb, you can increase your optiori and success if you select a larger, established contract agency over a smaller one. A larger agency can usually replace no- shows or unacceptable officers, even at the last minute, because they have a larger pool of employees. Also, larger agencies tend to retain officers longer because they can offer better training and supervision, more benefits, and can provide a defined career path. This doesn’t guarantee success however, you still need to accept or reject poor quality security guards when it becomes apparent that they are not meeting the challenge.

You can drastically improve your success potential by setting up strict patrol compliance standards as part of the written contract. These are usually called “post-orders.” Post orders should be detailed and always in writing. They are given to each officer as the basis for how they are to service your property. Any breach of the post-orders could be grounds for not paying for the defective service, for replacing the officers, or for replacing the contract security agency. Long-term courtesy officers usually don’t require post-orders but more of a detailed job description.

Specific post-orders might include, for example, a set time requirement for patrol such as one-hour of foot patrol, three times per night, and between 8:00 PM and 4:00AM. You should require that the security officers patrol all areas of the property and to document their patrol pattern in detail. This can be done either with written activity logs or with the use of a watchman’s clock or similar device.

Don’t accept activity logs that merely state, “10:00 PM or 11:00 PM all quiet.” A proper activity log might state, “10:06 PM Completed patrol of the south parking lot, one light burned out over parking space #256 or “10:14 PM Checked the mail room, pool gate, laundry room, and bathroom door locks. All were secure.”

Drive-through security patrols can be a waste of money if the security officer never stops or gets out of the car. Drive-through accounts rely on high visibility and therefore must spend time on a property to be really effective. Some contract security agencies will overbook drive-through accounts and thereby create a schedule that is impossible for the patrol officer to maintain. Because of this, some properties might get skipped altogether or receive only a high-speed pass through their property.

Here are some basic rules to follow to maximize contract security guard productivity:

Always read the fine print on the contract. You may be signing an indemnity clause in favour of the contract guard agency.
Always ask for a copy of their guard company license, and evidence of insurance coverage.
Request to be named as an “additionally insured” on their policy and indemnity from their negligent acts.
Always attach the detailed post-orders and patrol instructions as a contract addendum.
Always require that detailed written activity logs be submitted following the last patrol. Read them, act upon them, and file them for at least two years. Do not accept or pay for incomplete service.
Always require, in writing, that the security guard agency properly equip their officers with a full uniform, a hand- held radio or cell phone, a notebook and pen, a flashlight, and a vehicle if necessary.
Always require, in writing, that the contract agency will provide necessary background screening, and all training that is suitable forthe site to be patrolled.
Always supply the security guards with an emergency call list and telephone access.
Always notify the residents how to the contact security guards when needed.
Communicate often with the security guard supervisors to get higher quality and service.
Do not settle or pay for poor performance or inappropriate behavior.

Security Guidelines

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:03:26 +0100

The mission of the Police Service is to provide you with the level of Security you need to enable you go about yourduties in peace.

This is in recognition of the fact that you dutifully meet your tax obligations and we on our part have to make it possible for you to enjoy the peace that you deserve. Unfortunately we are notable to meet your security needs without you taking steps to assist in your own security.

We would therefore make certain suggestions for us to discuss how feasible their implementations are.

We have observed that most of the recorded took place after midnight.
Therefore we will advice that you break your sleep around that time to be able to look out for intruders.
We have always mentioned that we lack manpower, logistics etc. It is therefore difficult to get permanent Police guard for people who request.
We advice you to:
Have well trained dogs who would alert you of an intruder in the house.
Another way will be to:
Employ private security personnel to keep watch.
Educate your security people to question any suspicious persons who appear to be spying on you. Call the Police and give such information to them.
Do not struggle with robbers when they succeed in getting into your premises, because your life at that time will be at risk. What you have to do is try to observe the mannerism of your attackers, i.e. their voice, their gait, their height, colour and any other features you can observe. Most of the time, robbers look for big sums of money, jewellery, sound systems, camera, mobile phones, clothing and other valuable items.
You will:
Refrain from keeping large sums of money on you. You may decide to keep and withdraw your money at the bank near to your destination. You will also give a particular identification mark to all your home electrical appliances, i.e. TV sets, video decks, sound systems, cameras etc. By marking your property, it will assist you to get back your stolen property.
Armed robbers use blocks and other implements to gain access into the premises of their victims. You will reinforce your main doors with iron gates which wil be difficult to break in. Avoid leaving in you premises pieces of blocks which will lend & ready tools for your attackers.
Be on good terms with your neighbours so they will be ready to assist you in times of any attack. Help nurture a neighbourhood watch committee in your various areas and sustain it by making monetary contributions towards the upkeep of the committee. Be sure you present the members of the committee for vetting lest you employ criminals to keep watch over your property. Exchange telephone numbers with your neighbours, watch closely vehicles which you suspect are trailing you and drive to safer place.

Leaving Your Home
When leaving your home for a trip or holiday you must consider the following;

Ask your neighbour or friendto keep eye on your house and remove mail from the door mat. Persuade him to keep your law trimmed and if possible park a car on your drive.
You may also subtly cancel deliveries newspapers etc.
Remove valuable or attractive items froi view through your windows.
Make sure your garage doors are alway locked.
Ensure that all windows are closed an’ locked, and all keys removed from th locks.
Don’t close curtains or blinds as they are give away during the day.

If you have an alarm, make sure it is set and you have informed your trusted neighbour.

SECUERITY IN YOUR GARDEN
Remember to lock away gardening tools and equipment in your garden shed, they make very good house breaking tools for the casual thief. If you have a ladder ensure that it cannot be used to gain access to open upstairs windows. Keep all garden fence in good repair and always padlock gates.

Keep plants, hedges, and shrubs in your front garden below window sill height, also trim out the bottom growth of trees. Why give a burglar screen to work behind.

Consider any of the following
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH:
If you haven’t joined one, do so now. Neighbourhood watch enables you to join with neighbour to fight local crime and help keep each other’s property safe. Those living where there isn’t any, get one going.

BUSINESS WATCH
Just like neighbourhood watch, whatever your organization makes or sells, you will have security problems in common with others around you.By linking together in a Business Watch, you can defeat the villains. Initiate moves and form Business Watch.

LIGHTING
Good lighting will deter the thief at night. There is now manually controlled photoelectric cell or movement detector lights which illuminate the porch and garden areas. This type of lighting switches on when movement is detected.

ENTRY PHONES
If you have an entry phone system installed in your house, be sure to check the identity of any caller before allowing access. If you do not have any try and install one. www. ghana police. org

THE IMPORTANCE OF A HOME SECURITY ALARM
ByArturo Ronzon
Homeland securitization has been given so much importance over the past few years that we have almost forgotten the importance of our own house and the importance of a good home security alarm. While burglary in your property may not make the headlines, it is in your best interest to safeguard property by installing a good home security alarm.

According to the US bureau of Justice Statistics there were 14 million incidents of theft on property and in 83% incidents the burglars had entered the house or building located in the property.

You might feel safe by locking your doors and windows but there are ways to enter a house known only to people who commit burglary for living. Burglars always strike by surprise; to underestimate their resourcefulness would be a mistake you would not want to make at any cost.

There are many types of home security alarm, which can help you effectively protect a property, belongings and more importantly your family from burglars.

Home security alarm is one of the more trusted methods to protect your house from burglars; a simple home security alarm generally makes a loud sound or dials a number like 911, your cell phone or a neighbor and sends a pre recorded distress message. Some systems connect themselves with the smoke alarms which notify the fire department immediately.

Then there is also the monitored house securitizing systems which are considered the safest of all and the local systems which are considered safer than monitored property securitizing systems, yet cheaper
Many securitizing systems come with a sign board that can be mounted on the door, mailbox or anywhere else where they can be noticed.

Burglars generally target un-protected houses and leave alone the houses protected by any type of home security alarm. As for starters, the cheapest home security alarm is the “do it yourself” systems, you need to do all the installation and setup yourself, but if you are on a budget these are the right ones for you.

A home security alarm not only helps in preventing burglary but it also helps in minimizing the loss in case the burglars break into a house because they fear a backup or the sound which might alert the neighbors or the police.

Ghana Police Service

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:01:34 +0100

BRIEF HISTORY
The attainment of Republican status in 1960, saw the changing of the name Ghana Police Force into Ghana Police Service.

With the enactment of the Police Force (amendment) Decree, in 1974 (NRCD.303) the Ghana Police Service was removed from the control of the Public Service Commission and restored to the status of a selfaccounting organisation, resulting in the creation of districts, divisions and units to enable it cope with the ever increasing demand of the public.

Before then, history indicates that the Police Force started with a handful of troops kept by a committee of merchants to guard their areas of operations (Forts and Castles) even before the Gold Coast was colonised.

In 1844, the British took over those troops and named it the “Gold Coast Militia and Police”. The troops mainly performed guard duties at the Forts/Castles. Some were also attached to the Courts for investigations and service of summonses

When the British Government assumed full sovereignty over the Gold Coast in 1871, the Force had only ninety (90) men. This was reinforced with four hundred (400) Hausa tribesmen from Northern Nigeria and other tribesmen from Sierra Leone.

In 1876, the Force was named the “Gold Coast Constabulary”. With the attainment of self rule, the first President of Ghana appointed Mr. E.R.T. Madjitey, Commissioner of Police, as the first Ghanaian head of the Police Force.

Since then there have been fifteen (1 Inspector-Generals of Police who have seen the successful administration of the Service.

National Headquarters
The Inspector-General of Police is assisted the day-to-day administration and operation c the service by two (2) Deputy Inspector Generals of Police i.e. Deputy IGP/Administration and Deputy IGP in charge of operations.

All Police functions, organisation, personn management and welfare have been divid into ten(10) SCHEDULES with each schedul under the Command of a Commissioner Police.

The schedules are;

SERVICES
WELFARE
SDM (Strategic Direction and Monitoring)
TECHNICAL
LEGAL AND SPECIAL DUTIES
CID
FINANCE
OPERATIONS (OPS)
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMEN (HRD)
POLICE INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU (PIPS)
CHIEF STAFF OFFICER (Regional)

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SERVICE
The structure of the Police Service has expanded over the years with the creation of new units to address the increasing demands of governance and public safety.

The day-to-day administration of the Police Service is under the unified command and authority of the Inspector-General of Police [IGP] who is based at the Police Headquarters inAccra, the nation’s capital.

The IGP is assisted by two deputy IGP’s one is responsible for Administration and the other responsible for Operations.
Also assisting the IGP at the Police Headquarters is the Headquarters Management Advisory Board: (HEMAB). They are responsible for the following schedules;

SERVICES
WELFARE
SDM (Strategic Direction and Monitoring)
TECHNICAL
LEGALAND SPECIAL DUTIES
FINANCE
OPERATIONS (OPS)
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (HRD)
CHIEFSTAFFOFFICER
POLICE INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU (PIPS)

The Ghana Police Service is divided into twelve administrative regions namely: Accra, Tema, Ashanti, BrongAhafo, Eastern, Volta, Western, Central, Northern, Railways, Ports and Harbour, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Below the regions, there are;

51 Police Divisions, Commanded by Divisional Commanders,
179 Police Districts Commanded by District Commanders, and
651 Police Stations and posts supervised by station officers.

The service has manpower strength of a little over seventeen thousand 17,000 personnel with a male to female ratio of about 7:3 and police civilian ratio of about 1:1200.

NEW POLICING STRATEGY
With manpower strength of about 17,000, the Ghana Police Service has undergone major transformation over the years.

The focus is now on forming strategic partnership with the public in the fight against crime. Community Policing is now being encouraged to involve local communities in identifying potential crime problems and together with the police map out strategies to check them.

The service is also paying special attention to the needs of women and children and other victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit [DOVVSU] has offices throughout the regions to handle such cases.

RELATIONSHIP WITH INTERPOL
The Ghana Police Service joined Interpol in 1958. Ghana was the first African Country to host the Interpol General Assembly in 1976. Ghana is also an active member of the West African Police Chiefs’ Committee [WAPCCO]
The Ghana Police Service has been actively cooperating with police services within and outside the sub-region in the fight against transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, internet fraud, stolen vehicles, trafficking in small arms and light weapons and money laundering. Ghana hosted the 18th Interpol.

African Regional Conference and thefl 7th meeting of Heads of African National Drugs service from 11th-i 5th July, 2005 inAccra.

The Ghana Office of Interpol has beep connected to the state of the art global communication system called 1/24/7 - Interpol 24 hours a day seven days a week. Tel No: 0302-777606.

Choosing a Private Investigator

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:53:47 +0100

When you are looking to hire a private investigator services, there are several factors which you may want to look into before signing a contract.

- Confidentiality: It goes without saying that your privacy should be the top concern if you are a paying client. From the initial consultation to the investigative work, it is important to do research beforehand to ensure your private investigator will keep all aspects of the case confidential.

- Competitive Rates: You will want to look around to compare and contrast the rates of several agencies. Keep in mind that the lowest price does not necessarily mean the best service - this is a field where you do get what you pay for. If you choose a lower tier agency, there is a good possibility that they will not give you an accurate quote and continue to bill for several hours of work without results. Even worse, they may get caught while providing their services, something that you do not want.

- Qualifications: What is the background of the person/company you hire? If you want top quality work, ensure that the investigators you hire are licensed. Many PI's do their work part-time, and are not properly qualified. This could result in mediocre results for a steep price. If you are looking for superior services, you will need an investigator that has superior qualifications.

- Special Services: Some detective agencies consider themselves a do-it-all outfit, while others focus on specific cases. While the former may be useful, it's generally a better idea to hire someone who specializes in a certain type of investigative work. These types of cases may include, but are not limited to, infidelity and cheating spouses, child custody, background checks, intellectual property theft and surveillance.

- Responsiveness: Not only do you want top notch results, but if you are paying a premium you will also want top quality service. The investigator you choose should respond quickly to e-mails and phone calls, work with the clients individual needs, and provide the best possible service instead of focusing on how much money they will get from the client. A great private investigator knows that the reputation of their company is build on client satisfaction. Client testimonials are a good means for determining the quality of service provided by the investigator agency.

- Location: While you may want to choose a detective that is across the country based on their reputation, you will surely pay an exorbitant amount due to the travel time required. Your best bet is to do the research beforehand to find a quality private investigator that is within a 120 mile radius of your location.

Private Investigator Services

Investigative Agency Specialties

- Spouse Infidelity: Are you worried that your spouse is lying to you? Has your husband or wife become distant and guarded? If you have suspicions that your significant other is cheating on you behind your back, it may be necessary to hire an investigator to give you the evidence that you need to bring you the truth. Often a client's gut feeling is what prompts them to acquire the services of a private investigator, as they are unable to obtain the proof themselves. It's important to try and keep level emotions during the process of investigation, because any tips that you are suspicious may make the investigation more difficult and increase the price of the services.

- Alimony and Co-habitation: Alimony investigations may help to save you thousands of cedis, due to co-habitation with a new significant other. Alimony payments must be made after divorce, but if it can be proved that the circumstances have changed due to co-habitation, alimony payments may be greatly lessened. Co-habitation cases may need extensive work for proof, but when factoring in the potential long-term savings, it is an investment that is well worth looking into.

- Child Custody: The court appointed primary custodian is not always the best suited parent for child custody. Whether they are participating in illegal activities, dating a person with a criminal record, dropping off their kids to a babysitter to go out, or showing a general disregard to the care of the child, a private investigator can help provide the evidence you need to prove your case in court. Because these types of investigations require proof of a series wrong-doings or misbehavior, they may be more in depth or involved then other cases.

- Fraudulent Insurance Claims: If you think that a worker or employee is reporting a fake injury to collect compensation, you may want to commence an investigation for proof.